. >> so gordon, newman was a veteran of the korean war. newman apologized for crimes, but that ended six decades ago. why is this unfolding now? >> we don't know why now, but it's important. north korea doesn't do things like this without careful deliberation. one of the things we can say, though, is that the founding myth of the north korean state is that the united states and south korea attacked the north. and what this does, by impre impressening mr. newman, it gives the opportunity to replay this myth for the north korean people. this bolsters the regime. >> you look at the apology and everybody say it is was terribly scripted. what did you make of that? >> of course it was scripted. that's what they always do with something like this. they want to make sure they get exactly the message they want out to the north korean public. so they're not going to allow any sort of deviation. so clear this was directed on high from the top of the regime down to the officers who detained merrill newman. >> let's talk about the top of the country, w